Water the plant in its pot by plunging it into a bucket of water about an hour before planting. After this, remove it from its pot so that you can tease out any roots that have become compacted. Use a cane to establish the correct depth for planting; ensure that the plant will sit in the hole at the same depth as it was in its container.

Step 2: Place it Parallel

Place it Parallel

Drive a stake into the soil on the windward site of the rootball, and rotate the tree until the trunk sits comfortably parallel with the stake.

Drive a stake into the soil on the windward site of the rootball, and rotate the tree until the trunk sits comfortably parallel with the stake.

Step 3: Refill and Stake

Refill and Stake

When planting a tree, refill the hole with soil around the roots and the stake and firm in using your foot. Secure the tree to the stake using a buckle-and-spacer tree tie. This allows you to loosen regularly as the stem grows wider.

Refill the hole with soil around the roots and the stake, and firm using your foot. Secure the tree to the stake using a buckle-and-spacer tree tie; this will need checking and loosening regularly as the tree grows. Water, and mulch as for a bare-rooted tree.